Gareth Bale starred with a perfect hat-trick in Cristiano Ronaldo's absence as Real Madrid claimed a resounding 4-0 win over Real Valladolid at the Bernabéu on Saturday night.
With Ronaldo out nursing a thigh strain for a second straight game, Bale stepped up to the plate and netted three for himself.
The Welshman headed in the first goal of the evening on 33 minutes after finding himself in perfect position to nod in a rebound of Ángel di María's blocked effort.
Bale then picked out Karim Benzema with a pinpoint cross to head the ball past Valladolid goalkeeper Diego Mariño and put the result beyond doubt before halftime.
The third goal arrived on 64 minutes as Bale swept home with his right foot after Marcelo's cross was blocked by a Valladolid defender.
But the world's most expensive player wasn't finished and he completed his treble by knocking in a cross from Marcelo with his preferred left foot.
The 24-year-old has now scored eight goals in the last seven matches for the Spanish giants.
When the final whistle went, the former Tottenham Hotspur star collected the match ball and took it to the centre circle, holding it aloft to salute the appreciative public.
"It's always a pleasure to score, but even more so when you can score a hat-trick in the Santiago Bernabéu," Bale told the club's official website.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti added in his post-match conference: "I think his period of adaptation is over. He is doing well, he is confident and is very important for us. He did very well today."
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| Real Madrid player Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring a goal against Real Valladolid Photo: Reuters |
With Ronaldo out nursing a thigh strain for a second straight game, Bale stepped up to the plate and netted three for himself.
The Welshman headed in the first goal of the evening on 33 minutes after finding himself in perfect position to nod in a rebound of Ángel di María's blocked effort.
Bale then picked out Karim Benzema with a pinpoint cross to head the ball past Valladolid goalkeeper Diego Mariño and put the result beyond doubt before halftime.
The third goal arrived on 64 minutes as Bale swept home with his right foot after Marcelo's cross was blocked by a Valladolid defender.
But the world's most expensive player wasn't finished and he completed his treble by knocking in a cross from Marcelo with his preferred left foot.
 | |
| Real Madrid player Gareth Bale shows off the ball at the end of a match against Real Valladolid Photo: Reuters |
The 24-year-old has now scored eight goals in the last seven matches for the Spanish giants.
When the final whistle went, the former Tottenham Hotspur star collected the match ball and took it to the centre circle, holding it aloft to salute the appreciative public.
"It's always a pleasure to score, but even more so when you can score a hat-trick in the Santiago Bernabéu," Bale told the club's official website.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti added in his post-match conference: "I think his period of adaptation is over. He is doing well, he is confident and is very important for us. He did very well today."
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